Since winning elections in January, Hamas can no longer rely on the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) long-time European and American donors. The PA now runs a monthly deficit of $120 million, adding to the pressures it faces to renounce violence and recognize Israel.

Nigeria’s political temperature continues to rise as moves to alter the constitution to extend presidential term limits stir protests across the country. The country is already beset by sectarian violence and ongoing clashes with militants in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

As Uganda votes in its first multi-party elections in twenty-five years, President Yoweri Museveni rejects allegations he is abusing power and intimidating his opposition. His critics warn such power politics may undo much of the progress Museveni made since coming to power twenty years ago.

As Hamas prepares to reconvene the Palestinian parliament and appoint a new prime minister, the United States and Israel continue to doubt the group's apparent unwillingness to renounce violence and recognize Israel.

The Palestinian parliament meets this week for the first time since Hamas' win in last month's elections. Amid intense rhetoric, observers are left guessing about the future of the Palistinan Authority.

With nearly all the votes counted, frontrunner and crowd favorite René Préval wins only 48 percent of the vote in Haiti, forcing a March runoff and prompting violent protests that left at least one dead.

Iraq’s ruling Shiite bloc picked Ibrahim al-Jaafari to stay on as prime minister, casting doubts on the ability of Iraqi leaders to form a national-unity government. A moderate Islamist, Jaafari has been criticized for his lack of charisma and leadership skills.

Two weeks after a stunning electoral upset, the thrill of victory is wearing off for Hamas. Faced with the options of abandoning its hard-line rhetoric or risking the loss of desperately needed foreign aid, Hamas' leaders must make some difficult decisions.

Haitians choose a president and legislature on February 7 in long-delayed elections seen as crucial in lifting the country out of poverty. The vote takes place during a time of high unemployment and rampant violence but credible polls could lead to much-needed foreign investment.

Will Iraq's various factions be able to overcome their sectarian differences to build a new government? Looking ahead, as Iraq's political parties vie for cabinet positions, there is some concern that Shiites—who won most of the votes in December's parliamentary elections—may exclude Sunnis from the more powerful government posts.

The Palestinian Islamic group Hamas won a large majority of seats in the Palestinian legislature, putting a faction which embraces suicide bombings in a position to lead the Palestinian Authority. Yet for all the fear expressed over the consequences, some analysts believe the party most at risk is Hamas itself.

Stephen Harper's Conservative Party has dethroned Canada's Liberal Party after thirteen years at the helm in Ottawa. But it won't be an easy ride for Prime Minister Harper, who didn't win enough votes for a majority in parliament. Harper will face a divided House of Commons as he pushes through his promised reforms—including improved Canadian-U.S. relations.

Official results indicate Shiite parties dominated the December 15 parliamentary election, though they fell short of an absolute majority. Experts say the stage is now set for a coalition government in which Kurdish politicians will hold the balance of power.

Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas says Israel, with U.S. prodding, will allow East Jerusalem's Palestinians to vote in a January 25 parliamentary poll. The PA had warned the election would be postponed if Israel followed through on its threat to ban the vote in East Jerusalem because of the participation of Palestinian militant group Hamas.

CFR Experts Guide

The Council on Foreign Relations' David Rockefeller Studies Program—CFR's "think tank"—is home to more than seventy full-time, adjunct, and visiting scholars and practitioners (called "fellows"). Their expertise covers the world's major regions as well as the critical issues shaping today's global agenda. Download the printable CFR Experts Guide.

New Council Special Reports

Campbell evaluates the implications of the Boko Haram insurgency and recommends that the United States support Nigerian efforts to address the drivers of Boko Haram, such as poverty and corruption, and to foster stronger ties with Nigerian civil society.

Koblentz argues that the United States should work with other nuclear-armed states to manage threats to nuclear stability in the near term and establish processes for multilateral arms control efforts over the longer term.

The authors argue that it is essential to begin working now to expand and establish rules and norms governing armed drones, thereby creating standards of behavior that other countries will be more likely to follow.

2014 Annual Report

Learn more about CFR’s mission and its work over the past year in the 2014 Annual Report. The Annual Report spotlights new initiatives, high-profile events, and authoritative scholarship from CFR experts, and includes a message from CFR President Richard N. Haass.Read and download »